The Many Shades sent a squad up the A3 to Maidenhead again this September, the third year we have attended their McMillan Coffee Morning Event.Our roving reporter Pete Dolamore reports:We entered the tournament with a playing squad of eight plus Colin Jeffery in reserve. On arrival we registered, changed, and warmed up in accordance with the detailed plan evolved by our coach S Gale. Our coach for the day was Bobby, who should take credit for all that worked well (and blame for all the rest? - Ed). Our team Manager for the day was Peter Dolamore who did an excellent job in relevant areas.We were in a league of six teams, and our first fixture was an easy affair, it was as though the opposition, Wilts FC, were not there… they weren’t. The next game was against the hosts Maidenhead United, and the whole squad saw action as we won 5-0. In the third scheduled game we won 1-0 against Rivermead. This game was not without incident, Rich Bishop being pulled up by the referee due to what we would describe as “mild violent conduct” (?).On to game four against the GX Wanderers side, this one ending in a hard and competitive 0-0 draw, but only after a verbal disagreement by Dave Hall with the referee concerning a high clearance by him. When Dave was calmed down by the eternal diplomat Pete Dolamore, he had to leave the pitch having hurt his back. Dave made a miraculous recovery after some treatment by a young and attractive sports physio. In the last match in the league we lost 2-1 to Abingdon Almost Athletic, this despite some sterling performances by Barry Ingram and Bobby De Ste Croix, with great saves in goal from Dave Rowbrey.Then on to the semi-finals, indeed a well-deserved position for us. Due to some bad luck we lost 2-1 after a magnificent effort against a very good and well-drilled Highworth side. Unfortunately in the 3rd/4th play-off we lost to Bracknell by the only goal, much to the annoyance of James McIlwaine who wanted a medal and to be photographed with the Mayor of Maidenhead!In summary a great effort by a good squad of players giving their all for the club, funding the trip themselves, and for all the right reasons being noticed on a charity day by others attending and the organising team.The squad: Dave Rowbrey, Barry Ingram, Dave Hall, Pete Dolamore, Lloyd Fowler, James McIlwaine, Rich Bishop, and Bobby De Ste Croix. Goals from Lloyd (5) and Rich (3).

Congratulations to Pete Dolamore whose appearance against Maidenhead was his 200th for the Many Shades, a milestone rewarded by presentation of a Hawks shirt named and numbered “DOLAMORE 200”.

Turquoise and Yellow, opposites on the pitch

Two sides from the Many Shades hosted six other over-60s teams at Park Community School on a hot and sunny 7th October Sunday afternoon. With eight sides playing for the first time in one of our festivals, it was going to be a long afternoon, with matches starting at 12.00 and scheduled to finish at 3.00. With so many matches (28 altogether), it is impossible to accurately report on them apart from the bare bones, so here goes.Our first team to play was the Many Shades of Turquoise, who narrowly beat Pompey ITC 70+ squad by 1-0. The Pompey side were warming up for the National 70+ Finals in Nottingham two weeks later. The Many Shades of Yellow then got off to a decent start, drawing 1-1 with eventual joint-winners Mountbatten WFT. In the next round of games the Turquoises beat the wonderfully named South Bucks and Chiltern Keen-agers by the odd goal, while the Yellows were going down 0-1 to much-improved Bognor Regis Boulders.Then came the crunch game—Turquoises against Yellows. Obviously no quarter given or taken, and in the end the Turquoises overcame the stubborn Yellows 2-0.With games coming thick and fast, the Turquoises then barely had time to gather breath before drawing 1-1 with Emsworth & Hayling, and then the Yellows were unlucky to go down 2-1 to Pompey ITC.In the seventh round of matches, the Yellows were again unfortunate to lose 2-1 to Gosport CS, while on the next pitch the Turquoises were being held to a 1-1 draw by Mountbatten. Then yet again the Yellows lost by a single goal, this time to Emsworth & Hayling, before the Turquoises comfortably beat Bognor 2-0.In their final games, the Yellows were undone by another 1-0 scoreline, this time to the Keen-agers, while the Turquoises drew 0-0 with Gosport CS.In the end, the Yellows were somewhat undeservedly bottom of the league, having lost six out of seven games, all but one by the odd goal. So near, yet so far. They actually scored more goals than Bognor, who finished fifth on 9 points! Meanwhile the Turquoises finished joint top with Mountbatten, both sides having 15 points, and scoring 8 and conceding 2, and drawing in their Festival match. Pompey were 3rd (10pts), Gosport 4th (9), Bognor Boulders 5th (9), Emsworth & Hayling 6th (8), and South Bucks & Chiltern 7th (7).Squads were: Yellows: Keith McNeil, Pete Dolamore (1 goal), Mick Sidwell, Keith Huet, James McIlwaine (1), Graham Nobbs, Dave Todman, and Bobby De Ste Croix (1). Turquoises: Colin Jeffery, Barry Ingram, George Peters, Ian Warren (1), Stew Russell, Rich Bishop (4), Martyn Bishop (1), and Keith Gwilym (2).Huge thanks as ever to our referees, of which we had four this time: Graham Wilson, Dave Lester, Kev Rapley, and Adrian Haley. Even huger thanks to Jacqui Greethurst, Jenni Warren, and Roma Bishop for providing us with a wonderful buffet afterwards. Geoff Maunder’s photos are available by googling “Geoff Maunder October Walking Football”.